Network now...NEWS
Microsoft Slashes 360 Prices in U.S.
Microsoft on Wednesday confirmed rumors of an early September Xbox 360 price cut in the U.S. The new prices take effect September 5.
The baseline Xbox 360 will drop from $279 to $199; Xbox 360 Pro 60GB will drop from $349 to $299; and the 120GB Xbox 360 Elite will drop from $449 to $399.
By comparison, the de facto standard 80GB PS3 retails in the U.S. for $399, while the Wii sells for $249.
With the Xbox 360 dropping below the $200 mark, it's closer to what industry watchers consider a mass market-accessible price.
Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer recently said that PS3 would not be getting a price cut before the holidays. Meanwhile, Nintendo Wiis have been flying off shelves at the current price point.
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Wow, does this ever stink of desperation.
Did they cut the price on the wi-fi dongle, too? DIDN'T THINK SO.
Well, you can pick a 3rd party one up for like 60 bucks from best buy, but I'm sure a restructuring of their accessory prices will happen by holiday this year. Its been leaked that the 60gig hard drive will be packaged with some random live stuff and retail for 100 bucks by holiday. So, the 20 gig will be discontinued and the price be chopped. I wouldn't expect the elite to drop too much, considering the arcade is 200 cheaper than an elite. If the 120gig hard drive ($150 now) dropped any lower, you'd be an idiot to buy an elite (unless you want the free HDMI cables). Say, buy a core for 199, then bought a stand alone 120gig hard drive, you're already saving 50 bucks off the price of the elite. The only thing you're not getting is the cables and headset. If they were to drop it any lower, that would make the elite a hard sell, even with the cables and headset.
These price cuts put sony on notice, if they dont follow suit they are dead in the water, the cut will drive sales, in a huge way, and undo the progress Sony made in 08.
... and while the strategy moves consoles, and makes $$$, in my eyes it says something really bad about MS (the arcade sku is the cornerstone of my argument):
- They are scrambling with a desperate kitchen sink approach, that contradicts what they have said in the past. The xbox advantage is live and the exclusive DLC they have been landing, the arcade does not participate in this area that well... or at all.
- They are trying to compete with the Wii. They have said Wii is complimentary to xbox and not a competitor, but now they are trying to undercut it (again the arcade is the most wii like sku out there).
- They are abandoning the hardcore (ok so maybe abandon is too much to say). Still Lips, Avatars etc left the Xbots asking themselves WTF-MS???.
- The arcade cannot have a 10 year life (MS/SONY have both said their consoles will) . There is just no way. If we believe the critics (and the MS people themselves) Blu-ray is of no advantage because DLC and DD is the way of the future, well if half of your install base has no HDD...
- The lower tier SKUs cannot have a 10 year life. Hidef/High capacity/content is the way of the future, true 1080p gaming will arrive with hidef audio along with it. If you cant store everything in the disc then u have to compress and unpack on a drive. Double edge sword.
- What if Bluray makes it (my weakest and most fanboyist argument yet) but yes what if, do we do another addon (compromising quality) or do we do another SKU??
I firmly believe most (if not all is fair in business) so saying one thing and doing another is all part of business, you win if public perception is positive regardless of what you do. Case in point RROD
Xbox 360 is now $199, which is a MAGICAL price point in the game industry.
The fact that the $199 version comes with a big 512MB memory card means that the instant you open the box, you have everything you need to start playing games and having a lot of fun.
The 512MB Memory Card can hold a LOT of Xbox Live Arcade games, too!
And you can use any USB Memory Card with your favorite songs on it to listen to Custom Music while playing your $199 Xbox 360.
The $299 Pro system now comes with a 60GB hard drive, so if you are interesting in downloading lots of your favorite TV shows and watching movies, you will greatly appreciate the extra storage space in the 60GB version...60GB is more than most people would ever need.
Bro, you sound like a Microsoft Empoyee. But you're right, out the box you have access to live (silver), the same amount of memory that comes with the Wii (512mb internal flash memory), AND 5 xbox live arcade games (arguably the same value as Wii Sports) for 50 bucks less. Not to mention the Wii doesn't have an ethernet port, so if you don't use a wireless router you have to buy a 40 dollar usb dongle to use an E cable. And if by chance you want to at least 1 more controller, you'd spend $40$ or $50 on a wired or wirelss 360 controller respectively, or 60 for the Wii-mote and nunchuck. So, at the end of the day a WIRED internet user would pay 350 for a Wii, the adapter, and an extra wii-more/nunchuck when the same purchaser could get a core 360 for 240-250 with an extra controller. That's what, at least 100 bucks at the end of the day. And don't give me "you have to pay 50 bucks for live gold, well, you don't have to pay for multiplayer on the Wii because there ISN'T ANY multiplayer on the Wii (with a super rare exception). So the silver access live member buying an xbox would play at least 100 bucks less than a Wii. Shit, even the pro 360 comes out at the same price (again, for a wired internet, non gold live member) than the Wii. And you ask why would you buy a ethernet to USB dongle adapter for the Wii if you're claiming the Wii doesn't have online multiplayer? Well, what comes free with the Wii (access to downloadable games) also comes free with a silver account on the 360 (and access to movies/tv shows, etc on 360). So in the end, out the box an arcade 360 will save you at least $100 (wired internet people) and a Pro will net you the same price as Wii (for 59.5 more gigs of memory to boot!). And yes, I understand the same can be said the other way around for people who use wireless internet, Wii has wifi, 360 doesn't. So spare me that argument please.
He probably is an employee of MS. They have some goon called Darkfalz who's job it is to troll various forum's on their behalf as well. Sad really
Haha, it is sad. They don't know how to NOT sound like they're PR people.
Of course, this is great news to those households who don't care about all the industry goings on and what have you. Having worked in retail a few years back I can safely say to these folks, cheap is cheap - they'll buy a Wii, PS3 or 360 if the price is right. Microsoft will move a bunch of units this Xmas to these folks as long as people can afford the games for it (and the accessories AND an Xbox Live account).
Additionally, no doubt this means a NEW Xbox is soon on the way (eyes roll like marbles on an oiled floor). I'm actually looking forward to the day Microsoft stops treating otherwise healthy consoles like they're old operating systems, thank you much.
g.
This price drop will have some impact on sales, and will be no surprise if the XBox sells better then the PS3 on the next month.
I don't know what Sony will do to fight this, maybe nothing. I don't think they are able to slash the price. Sony is investing big on the software and services and I thing that is the right way to go.
Doubt I'll pick one up even if they dropped the price further. I've already got one console piled up with dust (Wii). My PS3 gets all my attention these days. I just don't need another console thanks.. Will a lower price point interest potential wii purchasers? I doubt it. Its all about the waggle these days.. When will these people learn!
We'll learn when "the waggle" stops being fun. Currently, they're in no danger of that with me, nor any of my friends and family who also own Wiis.
The 360 arcade has been cheaper than the Wii in the UK and EU for sometime now and it hasn't exactly set the region on fire with its sales performance. MS need to sort out their hardware reliability, LIVE tax (seriously the advantage is lost now and charging for something that is free on every other platform is not on, especially when you are charging for something you provide for free yourselves on the PC) and it's overpriced peripherals.
Even with the price slashed PS3 still offers a better value for the money paid. You get Arcade $199 + hard drvie $100 + wireless card $100 = $399. Pro version $299 + wireless card $100 = $399. Same price as PS3 cuz PS3 comes with wireless built in, not to mention that with the PS3 you get a Blu-Ray player as well.
Great logic guy (YEAH RIGHT), because we all know that you HAVE to buy the wireless card for your 360 to run. I wonder how for three years now I've been able to play online and have internet access with my e-cord. WOW I must be doing something new. Stop adding OPTIONAL accessories to the price so you can feel better about your purchase.
I depends on what you think is valuable.
yes, the Ps3 packs in more hardware but what is hardware without games?
What does it matter that the PS3 has all these extra hardware features if I would like to play, let us say, JRPGs? So I want to play games like Blue Dragon, IU, Star Ocean etc.. how will built in wifi and blu ray help me with this?
You are correct in a way, but its about perspective. If you want games, then 360 offers better value. You can buy an Xbox360, with Halo3 and GT4 + 2 other games and still be under the price of a PS3.
I would say that THIS is a better value than the what you wrote.
That "if you want games get a 360" , "the PS3 has no games" is getting waaaaaaaay to old.
Actually, for me, games are the main reason to get a PS3.
I had some doubts in the past what console would be a best buy, nowadays I have no doubts: The PS3 is the console to get. Much better value for the money.
I never forget that Sony owns about 20 studios, and has 2 top notch studios developing exclusively for them (Insomniac and Naughty Dog).
On the Microsoft camp, Bugie has already bailed out and admit starting to develop for the PS3, and Valve is already starting that developments.
With games like LBP, Resistance 2, Motorstorm 2, Killzone2 and Heavy Rain coming to the PS3, it's really a big mistake not to have a chance to play them.
Why is it that PS3 owners defend their game selection with LBP (a 2d platformer ffs) and a bunch of sequels to mediocre fps games. Just keep sucking up the Sony hype. Heavy Rain is the ONLY game even worth mentioning for the PS3 right now.
Besides, the biggest games out this year are Dead Space and Fallout 3 - and both of those can be had on the X360 for much less money.
There was a lot about future titles in that post and little about current titles.
I own a PS3, 360 and a Wii (not gloatign just want to make sure no "your a fan boy" arguements are started)... I own 29 games on the 360, 6 on the ps3 and 8 on the wii. Whilst I have a few games to look forward to in that list I still have a lot more I am looking forward to on the 360.
The arguement may be getting waaaaaay old, but it is still true, there are still not enough top quality titles for the ps3. They didnt help devs enough early on and they are still showing the signs of that... it may be improving, but it still has a long way to go.
Out of those 29 xbox games how many are exclusives to the box??
I would venture to say not many, and i would also venture to say that many were bought prior to PS3 release and the rest are big multiplayer/FPS that you wanted to play with your buddies. For me the PS3 is a huge value (I consume a lot of HD content and i rely on the PS3 for a chunk of the A/V decoding) but the average consumer doesnt care one bit about 1080p and lossless audio. Forget the addons of wifi and hardrive and price the decoding of Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master...
Let me put it out there I AM AN UNAPOLOGETIC PS3 FANBOY, and yes its got Blu-ray.
There is no doubt that the Live community is huge, and is not likely to be dethroned by PS3/Home. Does that make them the next gen king? if you dont count Wii... maybe.
Off the top of my head the exclusives are:
Bioshock (ok it wont remain exclusive), Command & Conquer 3, Crackdown, Dead or Alive 4, Forza, Gears of War, Halo 3, Mass Effect, Naruto: Rise of a ninja, Project Gotham Racing, Rockstar Table Tennis, Scene It!, Viva Pinata
There could be more, but Im not at home at the moment to check. Its true that a fair few of my games are cross platform... but i have bought a lot of them whilst already owning a ps3... achievements, Live and exclusive content have helped on some purchases...
I bought my PS3 mainly streaming media... and blu ray... and I would love it to have more of a reason for me to play games on it, but it doesn't have that yet.
"and the rest are big multiplayer/FPS that you wanted to play with your buddies"
Dont... just dont even try to label people... I play everything from party and quiz games through to sports, RPGs and FPSs...
The 360 got to the party early... they established a strong player base, and a good online service. The cross platform games will continue to sell well on the 360 until sony manages to do something to expand their audience. It needs to do that with something more than media functionality. It can't do it with Price. So big exclusive games is the easiest option, and so far not so good... Sales figures for LBP will be interesting to see... and more importantly, how many consoles are shipped with it.
You know the old "teh PS3 haz no gamez" is about 12 months out of date.
Are we trapped in a loop here? please read the posts above in this chain of replies... my original reply was to someone stating that the arguement was "waaaay old" so coming back to that again seems a bit daft
It will be out of date when there are enough games available of decent quality... until then it is a valid arguement.
I would also like to point out that i know how to spell "the", "has" and "games".
Repeat....
We are trapped in a loop because people like you just keep rehashing the same old argument from 2007, you've even gone as far as to list the games people were listing last year. "Bioshock (ok it wont remain exclusive), Command & Conquer 3, Crackdown, Dead or Alive 4, Forza, Gears of War, Halo 3, Mass Effect, Naruto: Rise of a ninja, Project Gotham Racing, Rockstar Table Tennis, Scene It!, Viva Pinata." You do realise that this is mostly a back catalogue now?
I thought I remember that the PS3 had some problem decoding lossless audio? I don't remember if it was the DTS HD or DT HD, but it was one of those. And they had a software update that sorta "faked" the ability so-to-speak but the end result was one no one would be able to tell the difference. And also, DTS-HD and DT-HD are not good unless you buy a receiver with that function. The cheapest receiver I've located that does that audio descrete, were $400 or more. And no blu-ray or HD-DVD have I seen support even 6.1 audio (descretely). I have a panasonic DTS-ES 6.1 descrete audio receiver and I would say less than 10% of DVDs had DTS-ES 6.1 audio. Special Edition Gladiator, Blade 2, Extended editions of LotR, are a few that jump to my head. I know receiveres can fake 6.1, 7.1, 8.1 etc, but I'm talking discrete 6.1. No Blu-ray movies or HD-DVD movies have 6.1 DISCRETE audio yet, check your collection bro, look at the back, 5.1 only. For some reason studios are not coding their audio in any thing higher than 5.1 yet (for blu-ray). So, right now I'll stick with my discrete 6.1 and I'll deal with DTS neo 6 for my HD DVDs and digital downloaded movies, but I'm not wasting my money on 5.1 DT-HD or DTS-HD until blu ray discs encode in 6.1 or higher. And I'm sure the PS3's downloadable movies do not support DT-HD or DTS-HD, maybe they do, but I doubt it, and I know bluray movies don't do 6.1 yet.
Not the right "thread" but i lets see... got a few movies 7.1. You are right most things are in 5.1 but thats exactly my point i have room for expansion rather than be limited of the bat. I paired my PS3 with an STR-DG910 (another SONY) nope it doesnt have discrete channels and its doesnt do DTS-HD, its 7.1 but i only hooked up cheap JBL 5.1 system i had lying around. The PS3 picks up the slack.
(If i could afford/be willing to become such an audiophile then the PS3 would not be part of this conversation.)
For my budget and appetite for games and HD content the PS3 paired with that receiver delivers more out of the box than the BOX. Then the potential for future-proofing makes it a better combo (it was confirmed when we got DTS-HD).
Hardware wise (media hub) the PS3 packs more than the xbox and is for me a better value
If you are strictly a gamer and drawn to PvP/multiplayer experiences i can see how you prefer the 360
And thats perfectly ok with me.
You're right. The xbox at its current state does not support either DTS-HD or DT-HD. The HDMI port doesn't support that format, which sucks. So, right now I'm in a limbo about what I want to do. Got burned by HD-DVD (I think its the retailer's fault) and right now digital distribution (DD) seems to be taking off so I'm not really sure if I'm going to go blu-ray or what. If any one comes out with a DD box that allows me to PURCHASE and not just RENT movies in HD I'm going that route. RIght now, the 360, PS3, Voodoo, etc only allow HD RENTALS as opposed to purchase. PSN and Voodoo allow SD purchases, but that's not what I'm interested in. So, I'm taking a wait and see approach. I may get a Blu-Ray player, upgrade my receiver to DTS-HD and DT-HD (as long as the receiver supports the potential for 6.1 discrete Blu-Ray movies if that ever happens) then I'm going all out, till then, I'll stick with what I got.
I agree the PS3 probably has more under the hood, but if the tools aren't there and the difference is only marginal then what's the point?
I'm not strictly a gamer, but I need something more appetizing from the PS3 from a gaming standpoint to interest me. I use my 360 as a media center, and it streams HD content with no problem. I watch a lot of my HD movies on the xbox, it gets the job done. AND the games are great, too.
That's perfectly fine with me, too.
touche'
I did not say that PS3 has NO games, but its safe to say that 360 offer a wider range as it is now.
But, most importantly, the entry point to play these games is the hardware price.
If people want to play for example, games like Madden and GTA, then they can look at the price.
So it will cost either 199 dollars to play Madden and/or GTA or it will cost 399 dollars to play the same games. Which entry price to play these games are more appealling?
The other issue you mentioned, multiplatform games.,
Once again, my example I used above. If users want to play the upcoming multiplatgames but DO NOT have a hardware to play them with, which is more appealing to buy? The same games but for less money due to cheaper hardware.
Finally, I do not want to start a list wars of games because its all about personal preference. Both PS3 and 360 will have stellar lineup for this holiday but only one of these machine will have stellar entrypoint regarding price.
Wow, Microsoft is really putting the pressure on Sony. Not only will this cut into PS3 sales, but it’s getting awful close to PS2’s price point. Considering the sell outs in Japan, I wonder if Microsoft will be able to keep up with demand.
There will be a slight bump in Sept, but not much more than that. Clearly a last ditch effort to regain momentum, and last ditch efforts rarely work. I know I know, they've sold blah blah, lead PS3 by blah blah, look at the trends of the past year, PS3 sales increasing, 360 decreasing.
Well, coop, you have to remember that the 360 HAS been out for a year longer, its only natural that demand for a system that's been out that much longer would be less. The 360 at the same time in its life cycle was selling better than the PS3 is at the same time in its life cycle. At the rate the PS3 is going, it'd take like (I did the math the other day, but don't remember exactly) the PS3 like 16 years to surpass the 360 (at least in US sales). The PS3 has only beatin the 360 a few times and only one of those months was it by a significant amount (MGS4 month). If it only beat the 360 by 30k units a month, and they have a 5 million console deficit to overcome, it'd have to do a lot better than that if it wants to suprass the 360 within this generation. With the price cut, and the holidays coming up, unless Sony makes a 100 price cut across the board, the 360 will easily outsell the PS3, and by a significant margin. Just my thoughts...
"The 360 at the same time in its life cycle was selling better than the PS3 is at the same time in its life cycle"
You could not be more wrong. If you look at the first 2 years of each console, the PS3 outsold the 360 by nearly 3 million worldwide. Even though the 360 had no competition for the first year, and even though the PS3 was at a significantly higher price point.
http://vgchartz.com/hwlaunch.php
"If you look at the first 2 years of each console, the PS3 outsold the 360 by nearly 3 million WORLDWIDE."
I specifically stated in US sales, not worldwide. Either way, at the pace the PS3 is at, it still would take them over 15 year's to surpass the 360 in THE UNITED STATES. I didn't do the math for worldwide, but it would still take quite a while for the to pass up the 360 in worldwide as well.
Well its nice to know that only sales in the US count, are they giving them away for free in the rest of the world? Either way you are still reaching with this ridiculous 15 year time frame. You assume that they will both be viable for the same time period, and that the small lead the PS3 has maintained lately won't grow.
they always cut the prices in the US a few months before Canada. I'd like a second 360 so I don't have to drag my 360 up and down the stairs when my family wants to use the better TV.
No shock there. Sales I'm sure will increase, but I don't think it will take off by any means. The august NPD numbers will be released September 11th but will only cover the time period between August 3rd to August 30th. We won't know the real impact of the price drop from NPD until the first or second week of October. My guess? 300k in September and not much more, if that.